Have You Ever Wondered About Thumbs.db

Have you ever wondered why the file ‘Thumbs.db’ appears in every one of your Pictures/My Pictures folders? Or why when you’re backing up, moving or copying digital photos from one location to another, Windows may pause and ask if you really want to backup, delete or copy the Thumbs.db file?

If you have you’re not alone. Since XP, Users beginning their digital photo adventure who have their folder view set at : Folder Options > View and the “Hide protected operating system files” check box, unchecked have been e-mailing me about this elusive and persistent rascal.

When you open a Pictures/My Pictures Folder or sub Folder and click XP’s View > Thumbnails or Vista/Windows 7's View > Extra Large, Large, or Medium Icons, Windows provides an expeditious way to view all your photos in a mass display of miniatures (Thumbnails/Icons). This allows you to work more efficiently with multiple photos as you don’t need to open each photo to view it.

The first time you use the Thumbnail/Icon View, Windows creates a Thumbs.db file, best described as data base file that accesses a ‘Cache’ of all the digital photo miniatures Windows creates when you click View > Thumbnails/Icons.

And whenever you add photos to a folder and view them as Thumbnails/Icons, Thumbs.db will update its data base.

The mystery of why Windows is reluctant to allow you to move or delete the thumbs.db file is simply this - it’s a System file and belongs to Windows - not you. In fact those who have tried to tidy up their photo folders by deleting Thumbs.db’s have found to their amazement it mysterious reappear the next time they open the folder.

I don’t know why you’d want to delete a Thumbs.db file or prevent Windows from creating one unless it’s because it’s interfering with your particular backup software - but if you do:
* You can temporarily delete a Thumbs.db file. But unless you permanently prevent Windows from creating the file, Thumbs.db will reappear the next time you View > Thumbnails or Icons.
* If you want Thumbs.db to continue doing it’s job but want to hide it from view. Click Start > Control Panel > Folder Options. On the View tab select “Hide protected operating system files” and click Apply > OK.
* To prevent XP and Vista from creating a Thumbs.db file. Click Start > Control Panel > Folder Options. On the View tab select ‘Do not cache thumbnails’ and click Apply > OK.

If you’re a Windows 7 user e-mail me and I’ll send you how to prevent 7 from creating a Thumbs.db file.

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.